South Korean industry ministry refutes claim that US commerce chief criticized NIS
South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources denied a newspaper report that US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick expressed distrust of the National Intelligence Service during investment talks.
In a written response, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources said the report claiming US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick voiced distrust of South Korea's National Intelligence Service was false. The statement specifically addressed the alleged remark made to Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan during negotiations on strategic investment projects. The ministry asked the newspaper to ensure accurate reporting to avoid misunderstandings.
The NIS issued a matching notice, confirming it had not been informed of any such statement. This clarification follows Washington's partial restriction of Seoul's access to intelligence on North Korean technology, a measure taken after a disclosure by the unification minister. The episode highlights the sensitivity of intelligence sharing in US-South Korea relations.
Why it matters
The denial seeks to prevent diplomatic friction and misinformation over US-South Korea intelligence cooperation.
In this story
